Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-11-25
4 DRUG ENDED HER LEE.


HOTSER.
BETRAYED BY A MAN Is VIRGINIA,
SHE COULD NOT FACE HER AF-
FGANCED-HER OWN HANDS PUT
AN END TO HER EXISTENCE.
HAGERsrOWN, Nov. 19..-The
mystery surrounding the death of
Miss Belle Fnnkhouscr, u young
lady Of twenty two, which occurred
at the residence Of her uncle. Mr..
VIM. Funkhouser 1T this place,
shortly before six o'clock last eve
nng, az mentioned in the american,
has been dispelled today. The
facts so far learned from the evil
dence before the coroner, and from
other sources, show that the young
lady left her uncIe's residence
shortly after one O'Clock yesterday
afternoon to do some shopping,
and while mp the street she called
on her father. During their con.
versation, which lasted for some
time, she informed her father that
she was enclente. and revealed to
him the name of her betrayer.
She told him that she was engag-
ed to be married to a gentleman in
BentOnville, Va, but that her be-
trayer was n young physician who
resided in Marksvllle. in the same
State. After an enecting scene
which followed this announcement
between father and daughter, it
was determined that both sbOnld
leave HagerStOwn early this morn
ing for Virginia for the purpose of
compelling her betrayer to repair
the wrong by marrying her. After
leaving her father it was not known
where she was for over an hour.
Shortly before five o'clock she ar
rived at her uncle'S. BY her cheer
ful demeanor and pleasant words
to the neighbors and the family OF
her uncle she concealed eilectually
from them the intention which she
evidently then had Of taking her
life. When she entered the house
she greeted her aunt pleasantly
and informed her that she was
going to her room to change her
clothes. Her aunt accompanied
her. Her aunt noticed nothing
unusual i'm the girls conduct. She
appeared in good spirits, and after
they had cOhverscd for u short
time upon ordinary topics, her
amt left the room, with the door
aiar, and returned to the lower
part of the house. About fifteen
minutes afterwards grOaEs were
heard coming from Miss Funk.
houser's room. Mrs. Funkhouser
at once hurried mp stairs, but found
the door locked. \ gentleman in
the neighbornood was quickly sum.
mOned, and the door forced open.
Miss FnnkhOuser was found lying
on her back across the foot Of Ter
bed unconscious, groanng as if in
great agony, and froihing at the
mouth.
She had removed only one of her
garments. Mrs. Funkhouser spoke
to her several times. but received
no answer. DrS. j. Nc p. Scott
and Mason were at once summoned,
but all efforts to restore her to con-
seriousness failed, and she expired |
in about half an hour after she
was first discovered. She left no
writing to indicate how and why
she had taken her lie. In n small !
satchel was found l vial, iull of !
colorless and odores' liquid, and a
package Of letters. The cOrOneI's !
jury, after viewing tie body. adj
iOurned until to-day Drs. Scott |
and Mason made post .mOrtem eX-
animation, and this e'ening both |
testified that the unfortunate young !
woman had been encielte for five |
months, and that she was of splen.
did physical development, with no |
trace of any disease. H,r stomach !
and its contents were removed, |
and are now at the dispoal Of the
authorities. There was nOevidence
of an attempt at abortion. Both
physicians further testiiiedthat she
died, not from natural caues, but
her death had been of a violent
nature. caused by some pwerlul
drug. The character of tip drug
they were unable 10 discOve. She
was a well.formed young Noman,
weighing about 40 pounds with
dark hair and eyes, and 'ather
good looking. Her mother lslead,
having died while the daughter
was quite young, and the dau,hter
has made her home with her gand-
parents, who reside near LUay,.
Virginia. She had been on a 'iNt
to her uncle IN this place for the
last four weeks. The examination
of the letters found in the satdlel
reveal that they were from her If
fianced husband and the yong
doctor referred to above. The 1t.
tiers Of the former breathe noting
but the most ardent affection AMI
show that the writer truly lOvel
the unfortunate girl. The letter.
from the doctor were tied up in /;
separate package. From them il
is gathered that she had been visit
ing Winchester and Frederick be.
fore coming to Hagerstown. In .
one letter of recent date he expos. +,
tulated with her about asking him !
TO send her something. Upon the
back of one Of his letters she has
written ont reply to his, in which
she asks him to destroy four OF the
last letters she sent him and tells
him that no one in'this place Sus-
poets her condition she also wants
him to visit her here. It's evident
that realizing that neither her aft. :
anced nor her betrayer would marry ,
her, and overwhelmed by the sad !
OF her unfortunate :
she deliberately deter. !
mined to end her lite. The poison /
was certainly subtle, powerful and O
rapid in its effect. Where she pro. ,
cured it or what character Of drug y
it was no one has so far discovered. o
The verdict Of the coroner's inquest v
was that she came to her death
from causes or means to the jury 4
v
The remains of Miss Funkhouser &
will be taken to Luray, Va, to. !